Rowan Atkinson has been blamed for the slow adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in the United Kingdom, reports Sky News. The Mr. Bean and Johnny English actor was name-checked during an environment and climate change committee meeting in the House of Lords earlier this week, with the Green Alliance think tank saying a comment piece by Atkinson was damaging to EV sales in the country.
The piece in question was published by The Guardian on June 3, 2023, with Atkinson saying “electric motoring doesn’t seem to be quite the environmental panacea it is claimed to be.” He goes on to talk about the environmental impact of EV production, alternative fuels, the life cycle of an automobile and that “our honeymoon with electric cars is coming to an end.”
The following week, The Guardian published another article by Simon Evans, deputy editor and senior policy editor of climate news site Carbon Brief, which looked to debunk claims made in Atkinson’s article.
In the meeting, the Green Alliance shared its views on the main obstacles the UK government faces in its bid to phase out petrol and diesel cars before 2035, and said, “one of the most damaging articles was a comment piece written by Rowan Atkinson in The Guardian which has been roundly debunked.”
“Unfortunately, fact checks never reach the same breadth of audience as the original false claim, emphasising the need to ensure high editorial standards around the net zero transition,” it added. Among the issues put forth by the think tank include an insufficient numbers of charging points, high EV prices and “a lack of clear and consistent messaging from the government.”
Last year, the UK government announced it would postpone the ban on the sale of new petrol- and diesel-powered cars to 2035, claiming the change is a “more pragmatic, proportionate, and realistic approach” that “eases the burdens on working people.”
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Lol. Blame people for poorer sales. Pathetic.
Kwai Loh cannot compete with Chinese Ev ,impose draconian tariffs.Now,poor EV sales,blame Mr Bean.N3xt time poor birthrate,blame condom makers.It smacks of utter hypocrisy n double standards.They r very good at the blame game .Just stay away from these bastards.
So in Malaysia, if I say EVs can replace my time machine, will everyone start buying biyadi?
If one person’s opinion is strong enough to stifle your cause, maybe your cause isn’t worth fighting for in the first place.
These EV zealots seem to live in their own bubble completely detached from the realities of the world. Sell cheaper EVs with longer range and enough charging points and people will come as soon as it’s the cheaper alternative. Right now it’s not.
Also, let’s not overlook the hypocrisy. You have idiot influencers all around social media like that deranged Australian Viking chap peddling FUD left and right about ICE to up his EV stocks. This committee never find fault with them?
Rolls-Royce and Mini bought by BMW, Bentley bought by Volkswagen Group, Jaguar Landrover bought by tata and Aston Martin partially owned by Daimler. U.K got its kifarah i guess
EV is not a real solution. Dumb ppl!
even without mr. bean’s comment, EV sales will remains slow. UK people and Europeans already know the bullshit behind the EV agenda, unlike soy pipu keep dwelling in comforting lies.
How many percent of EV owners bought EV because of environmental issues? They just want to enjoy the tech, instant torque, early adopter.
Maybe this committee should read Oxfam’s report on how the richest 1% emit as much carbon emissions as 2/3 of humanity. That 1% is roughly 80 million people by the way, so there’s no doubt EVs are mostly purchased by this group, and yet they’re still finding other ways to do the most damage.
Looking at EVs still dependant on gas/diesel powered generator to charge it, Sir Atkinson ain’t wrong thou.
He speaks the truth.
The way battery minerals being mined and EV manufacturing process are not that environmental friendly, and it is making it worst according to Volvo’s studies.. The only reason EV is a hype is because of EU zero emission policy but they don’t care how environmental damaging in African countries.
This man has a Master Degree in Engineering from Oxford.
Next generation sodium solid state battery doesn’t required rare earth minerals exotic material
EV is a world wide scam by the globalists!.
In the atmosphere the gases are
1. Nitrogen-78%
2. Oxygen -21&
3. Others – <1%
Carbon dioxide is in the category of <1%.(0.04% to be exact)
How can a gas which amounts to 0.04% cause climate change?!!!
This is the fa!@ingly stupidest and dumbest logic pushed by all govs, incuding the madasambrani gov and all media incling PT.!(who are all paid by the globalist)
Plants need carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and makes food for itself and a by product of this process is the release of oxygen which humans and animals need.
SO WHAT IS THE FA!@ING LOGIC OF CUTTING DOWN CARBON DIOXIDE???
ARE THE GLOBALIST TRYING TO KILL US ALL BY DEPRIVING US OF OXYGEN?
THE MOST IMPORTANT NUTRIENT FOR OUR BRAIN IS OXYGEN, WITHOUT IT OUR LIVES ARE GONE WITHING MINUTES!!!
THINK ABOUT IT
Dude, if you are so smart, why don’t you be the speak during the Climate Change Submit and prove your brilliant theory to the scientists and policy makers? We have your back to make our country proud..
Most part of the world still using coal to generate electricity. Battery rely on extensive mining industries on nickels cobalt etc..
there you go…an update version on having “environmental friendly” vehicles.
Mr Bean should just stick to comedy. The junk he spewed just make him look stupid. You dont buy EV just for saving planet earth.
other western countries’ gov also songlap by EV industry players… singing and praising the EV song, writing rules and policies to concentrate on EVs and ignoring other more sustainable options. that can only be one thing, politicians are making lots of songlap money. who cares about charging infra, building safety, affordability… that’s the poor ppl problem if they can’t afford it.
his car runs on Atkinson cycle